Sumo

Tamawashi Becomes the All-Time Leader in Consecutive Sumo Bouts

The 39-year-old Mongolian, who has won two Emperor's Cups, has not missed a bout since his debut in 2004. Tamawashi has appeared in 1,631 consecutive matches.

by
Jim Armstrong
September 10, 2024

Tamawashi is now sumo's official Ironman.

Mongolian-born wrestler Tamawashi set the record for consecutive bouts in grand sumo tournament history on Tuesday, September 10 with a push-out win against fellow rank-and-filer Kagayaki on Day 3 of the Autumn Basho.

Tamawashi came bursting out of the face-off and used a barrage of thrusts to the upper body to send the 11th-ranked Kagayaki out of the ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. His win left both wrestlers with a 1-2 record.

It was the 1,631st consecutive bout for the Mongolian, surpassing the previous record of 1,630 held by former sekiwake Aobajo, who retired in 1986.

At 39, No 10 maegashira Tamawashi is the oldest wrestler in the makuuchi division. He has not missed a single bout since his debut in 2004. He will turn 40 in November.

The breaks he was forced to take during the COVID-19 pandemic did not count against his consecutive matches streak, according to the Japan Sumo Association.

Tamawashi Reflects on Fans' Support

"The reaction from the crowd made it seem like I won a championship," said Tamawashi, a two-time Emperor's Cup winner. "I was so moved by their hearty congratulations."

Tamawashi added, "Moving forward is always what I focus on. Without the support of the fans I never would have been able to achieve this. It's hard to say how long I will be able to continue, I'll just try to do my best."

*Onosato (left) closes in on a victory over Oho. (©SANKEI)*

Six Wrestlers Tied for the Lead

In other major bouts at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament, sekiwake Onosato used a textbook frontal force-out to send No 2 maegashira Oho backpedaling out of the ring.

Onosato, who is chasing promotion to ozeki, is one of six wrestlers tied for the lead at 3-0.

Ozeki Kotozakura stayed tied for the lead with a push-out victory over top maegashira Tobizaru, who dropped to 1-2.

Sekiwake Kirishima also maintained a share of the lead at 3-0 with a superb overarm throw victory over top maegashira Takanosho (1-2).

Former ozeki Shodai and fellow rank-and-filers Endo and Sadanoumi are also perfect at 3-0.

*Atamifuji grapples with Hoshoryu on Day 3. (©SANKEI)*

No 2 maegashira Atamifuji delighted the sold-out crowd when he got a left-hand grip on the belt of Hoshoryu and shoved the Mongolian ozeki out to give both men a record of 1-2.

Wakatakakage, a seventh-ranked maegashira, used a slap-down technique at the edge to defeat Gonoyama and improve to 2-1. No 6 maegashira Gonoyama fell to 1-2.